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Juventus beat Napoli 2-1 at the Allianz Stadium to rekindle their hopes of a top-four finish in the 2020-21 Serie A.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala were on target for the Bianconeri as Lorenzo Insigne's late penalty proved to be a mere consolation for the Partenopei.
Both sides created several chances in the game, but the reigning Serie A champions eventually proved more clinical up front. Meanwhile, Gennaro Gattuso's side were undone by some poor finishing, with their defeat against Juventus jeopardising their hopes of a top-four finish.
With the three points, Juventus move to third in the league table, 12 points adrift of leaders Inter Milan, with only nine games to go.
On that note, let's take a look at five talking points from the match:
#1 Juventus and Napoli produce a thrilling encounter
It was not a 'top of the table' clash, but Juventus and Napoli went at each other, all guns blazing as if the Serie A title were at stake.
Inside the opening two minutes itself, both sides conjured and squandered a presentable opportunity apiece as the end-to-end action unfolded at a breakneck pace.
In an attacking display from both sides, both Juventus and Napoli had 11 shots apiece at the opposition goal.
It was a pulsating encounter reminiscent of their 2018 duel where both sides were locked in a tense battle for the Scudetto.
#2 Napoli's misfiring attack might cost them a Champions League place
The scoreline might've made for a familiar reading, with Juventus getting the better of Napoli once again, but that didn't narrate the entire story of the match.
Gennaro Gattuso's men were not without their chances, especially after Lorenzo Insigne's successful penalty, but they were left to rue what might have been.
The Partenopei were guilty of missing some good scoring opportunities in the game. One of them came as early as the second minute when Piotr Zielinski slammed his effort over the bar with the goal gaping in front of him.
Napoli amped up the pressure in the final quarter, working some brilliant openings to test Juventus' fragile defence, as substitute Victor Osimhen led their charge up front. But a combination of poor finishing and lack of killer final ball cost them the game.
If their misfiring attack doesn't improve, Napoli might have to contend with another season without Champions League football.
#3 Paulo Dybala scores off the bench for Juventus
Paulo Dybala came off the Juventus bench to score only his third league goal of the season. But it's been an unusual campaign for the Bianconeri's mercurial Argentine.
Dybala is no longer a regular starter and has had his future at the club questioned far too many times.
Against Napoli, though, the Argentine came off the bench and scored a lovely goal, only his fourth of the season in all competitions, to cut himself some slack.
However, would that be enough for him to stay at Juventus beyond this summer?
Like he has shown with his three other strikes this campaign, Dybala has got the quality, and at just 27, he is only hitting his peak.
If he were to recapture his mojo and breathe new life into his career, he could flourish elsewhere if the Bianconeri decide to part ways with Dybala.
#4 Victor Osimhen is the real deal
When the Partenopei signed Victor Osimhen for €50 million from Lille last year, they knew what they were getting.
The young Nigerian gun is a bag of talent. Even though he's yet to truly shine for them, Osimhen showed flashes of his brilliance against Juventus.
He showed urgency in attack and harried the Juventus defence after replacing Dries Mertens in the 76th minute. His terrier-like pressing caused the Bianconeri to wobble a few times, while his hulking frame allowed him to dominate on the ball too.
With a little more ruthlessness in his game, the 23-year old can prosper at Napoli.
#5 Andrea Pirlo lives to fight another day
The embattled Juventus manager, Andrea Pirlo, can heave a sigh of relief, for now.
Juventus eked out an important point, not just from the perspective of consolidating their Champions League hopes but also in terms of rescuing their manager's job.
The former Juventus player has been walking a tight rope following a series of disappointing results. There were even talks of a sack if the Bianconeri failed to win against Napoli.
So, suffice to say, Pirlo has borrowed himself some time. However, there's no time to rest. He ought to go back to the drawing board once again, as Juventus were far from perfect on the night. Only two quality individual moments and last-ditch defending from Matthijs de Ligt earned them the three points.
Earlier, league leaders Inter Milan beat Sassuolo by an identical margin to maintain their 12-point lead over reigning champions Juventus.
Hopes of a tenth-consecutive Scudetto for Juventus have long since vanished into thin air. Pirlo needs to ensure Champions League football for Juventus next season to hope to remain at the helm.
